With 1.8 percent of the season over, the Nationals were on pace to win a record setting 162 games. Currently, they are on a six-game losing streak, and now find themselves at the bottom of the NL East. That said, it is still too early in the season to be that worried about wins and losses, right Detroit? For example, a quick look at the standings show Baltimore, Kansas City, and Florida leading their divisions, and we know that that can’t continue. Besides, it doesn’t look like that many of you are paying attention anyway.

Bullpen Issues
As I, and many others said, the bullpen was going to be the Nationals’ rock this year. Well, with Chad Cordero out, that hasn’t been the case. Jon Rauch has been filling Cordero’s closer spot, and is currently posting an ERA of 6 with a blown save, and the bullpen as a whole has only converted only one save out of four opportunities. Again, it is too early in the season for these statistics to mean much, but this early trend is disturbing. The team hopes that once Cordero returns, everyone can go back to their normal roles and the bullpen will return to form.

The Injured
It wouldn’t be a Nationals season without some of our key players on the DL. Dmitri Young, Elijah Dukes, Shawn Hill, Wily Mo Pena, Ryan Wagner, and Chad Cordero are all injured. Each of these players is expected to make big contributions to the team this year. Honestly, there are times when it seems like the teams in this town need better athletic trainers. You know things are bad when Felipe Lopez is your starting left fielder.

Briefly Noted: The new stadium thinks that Tim Redding struck out Henley Ramirez on a 58 mph pitch… Shawn Hill is feeling good, and may join the team soon… the benevolent Peter Angelos wishes the Nationals well.

Meaningless statistic of the week: The Nationals are currently tied with the Phillies for the National League lead with 4 batters being hit by a pitch in the first 6 innings of a game.

Photo by Flickr user Liliang